The ECO4 grant covers up to £25,000 in energy-efficiency improvements, but eligibility is means-tested and property-specific
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme is a government-mandated programme that obligates major energy suppliers to fund energy-saving upgrades for low-income and vulnerable households. The maximum grant value for a full package of insulation, heating, and controls is commonly reported by installers as up to £25,000, though actual costs depend on the measures installed (DESNZ, 2026).
You qualify for the ECO4 grant if you receive one of seven means-tested benefits (like Pension Credit or Universal Credit) and your home has an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. The grant covers up to £25,000 in energy upgrades via MCS-certified installers. Check your benefit and EPC first.
- Check if you receive one of 7 means-tested benefits like Pension Credit or Universal Credit.
- Your home must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G to be eligible for ECO4.
- The grant covers up to £25,000 for insulation, heating, and controls via MCS-certified installers.
- ECO4 is not a cash payment, the installer claims funding on your behalf after work is done.
- Pension Credit qualifies you regardless of property type or other income for the simplest route.
- The ECO4 grant covers up to £25,000 in energy-efficiency improvements, but eligibility is means-tested and property-specific
- The primary qualification route is receiving one of seven means-tested benefits listed by the government
- Your property must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G to be eligible
- The scheme covers solid wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, underfloor insulation, and heating upgrades
- Quick numbers, key figures for eligibility and costs
- You do not need to own your home, private tenants and social housing residents can also qualify with landlord consent
- To verify an installer, check they are MCS certified, TrustMark registered, and listed on the Ofgem ECO4 supplier's approved contractor list
- The direct answer to "how to qualify for ECO4" is be on a qualifying benefit, have an EPC rating of D or below, and own or have landlord permission for your property
The grant is not a cash payment sent to you. Instead, it funds the installation of specific measures by MCS-certified contractors, and the funding is allocated by obligated energy suppliers, British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Octopus, Scottish Power, OVO, Shell Energy, and Utilita. You cannot simply request the money; the installer claims it on your behalf after completing the work.
The primary qualification route is receiving one of seven means-tested benefits listed by the government
You qualify automatically if you or a household member receives one of the following means-tested benefits: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Universal Credit (with earned income below £31,000), Housing Benefit, or Child Tax Credit (with household income under £20,000) (GOV.UK, 2026).
Receiving Working Tax Credit alone does not qualify you. You must also receive Child Tax Credit or be on a low income to be eligible. If you are on Pension Credit, you qualify regardless of property type or other income, making this one of the simplest routes to approval. Note that the benefit must be claimed by someone living at the property, a non-resident family member claiming it on your behalf does not count.
Your property must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G to be eligible
The ECO4 scheme is only available for homes with an EPC rating of D or below (D, E, F, G). Properties rated A, B, or C are not eligible (Ofgem, 2026). The grant is built to raise the property to a minimum of EPC C, but the specific measures installed depend on a survey conducted by the installer.
If your home does not have a valid EPC, the installer must arrange one before work begins. This is part of the application process and is typically covered by the grant. The EPC must be no more than 10 years old and lodged on the national register. You can check your current EPC rating for free on the government’s EPC register website.
The scheme covers solid wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, underfloor insulation, and heating upgrades
Eligible measures under ECO4 include cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, internal wall insulation, loft insulation, flat roof insulation, room-in-roof insulation, underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, solar thermal panels, and heating controls (MCS Register, 2026).
Gas boiler replacements are not covered under ECO4. Only heat pumps or other low-carbon heating systems qualify for heating upgrades. All measures must be installed by an MCS-certified installer to qualify for the grant. The installer will conduct a full property survey before recommending which measures are suitable for your home, and the final package must meet the scheme’s cost-effectiveness rules.
Quick numbers, key figures for eligibility and costs
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum grant value | £25,000 | DESNZ, 2026 |
| Minimum EPC rating required | D | Ofgem, 2026 |
| Number of qualifying benefits | 7 | GOV.UK, 2026 |
| Typical heat pump installation cost | £12,000–£18,000 | EST, 2026 |
| Typical heat pump grant share | £7,500–£9,000 | EST, 2026 |
| Average cavity wall insulation cost | £2,500–£4,500 | EST, 2026 |
| Average external wall insulation cost | £10,000–£15,000 | EST, 2026 |
| Minimum property age | None (all ages eligible if EPC is D or below) | Ofgem, 2026 |
Note that these costs are typical market rates. The actual grant amount will cover the full cost of the measures installed, up to the scheme’s maximum, provided the installer’s quote is approved by the obligated energy supplier.
You do not need to own your home, private tenants and social housing residents can also qualify with landlord consent
Private tenants are eligible if the landlord agrees to the work and the property meets the EPC and benefit criteria (GOV.UK, 2026). The landlord must provide written consent, but they cannot charge you for the improvements. The grant is paid to the installer, not to you or the landlord.
Social housing tenants are also eligible, but the housing association or council must consent and may already have their own funding arrangements. If you are a tenant, check with your landlord first before starting an application. The installer will need the landlord’s signature on the application forms. Guide to landlord consent for ECO4 grants
To verify an installer, check they are MCS certified, TrustMark registered, and listed on the Ofgem ECO4 supplier’s approved contractor list
All installers must hold MCS certification for the specific measure they are fitting, for example, MCS for heat pumps or MCS for insulation (MCS Register, 2026). They must also be registered with TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme for home improvements (TrustMark, 2026).
The obligated energy supplier (e.g., British Gas, E.ON) keeps a list of approved contractors. You must use one from that list to get the grant. Check the installer’s MCS certificate number on the MCS Register website and confirm they are registered with TrustMark for consumer protection. Do not pay any upfront fees to an installer; legitimate ECO4 work is fully funded by the grant. How to check if an installer is MCS certified
The direct answer to “how to qualify for ECO4” is be on a qualifying benefit, have an EPC rating of D or below, and own or have landlord permission for your property
Step 1: Check if you receive one of the seven qualifying benefits listed above. Step 2: Check your EPC rating, if it is D, E, F, or G, you are eligible on the property side. Step 3: Contact your energy supplier or a local MCS-certified installer who works with ECO4 to start the application (Ofgem, 2026; GOV.UK, 2026).
If you meet all three conditions, you are highly likely to qualify. The installer will handle the paperwork, arrange the EPC if needed, and submit the funding request to the obligated supplier. There is no central government application form, the process is managed entirely through approved installers and energy suppliers. Complete guide to the ECO4 application process
Frequently Asked Questions
You qualify if you receive one of seven means-tested benefits: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Universal Credit (with earned income below £31,000), Housing Benefit, or Child Tax Credit (with household income under £20,000). GOV.UK confirms this list for 2026.
No, the ECO4 scheme only covers homes with an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. Properties rated A, B, or C are not eligible. Ofgem sets this rule for the programme.
The maximum grant value is up to £25,000 for a full package of insulation, heating, and controls. Actual costs depend on the measures installed, as reported by DESNZ in 2026. The installer claims the funding on your behalf.
No, receiving Working Tax Credit alone does not qualify you for ECO4. You must also receive Child Tax Credit or be on a low income to be eligible. GOV.UK clarifies this requirement.
Yes, tenants in private or social housing can qualify for ECO4 if they receive a qualifying benefit and the property has an EPC rating of D-G. The landlord must agree to the improvements. The Energy Saving Trust advises checking with your supplier.
